Control for automatic washing machines



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .llw

T. T. wooDsoN coN'rRoL Fon Au'rolmlc WASHING ummms Fi 5g. I.

Filed Jan. 8, 1946 Inventor-z ThomasT.' Woodson by @4M/m25 His Attorney.

Oct. 17, 1950 T. T. wooDsoN comm. Fon Au'romrc WASHING ncnmss 3 Sheets-Sheet Figa glas Filed Jan. 8, 1946 Inventor' l Thomas T. Woodson Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,526,444 y Thomas T. Woodson, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation oi' New York ,l The present invention relates to washing machines of the type wherein the successive steps 'of the washing cycle are carried out automatithe needed functions in a satisfactory and reliable manner.

For a consideration of what I believe to be' novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a washing machine in connection with which my improved control may be` used; Fig. 2 is a developed view of a control cam, i. e., a cam chart, on which is indicated the relative positions of the switches at successive points in the cycle of operation; Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing the positions of the elements of the control at the beginning of a washing cycle, and Figs. 4 to 7 are similar wiring diagrams showing the positions of thel elements of the control during other periods of the cycle.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I indicates the tub of a clothes washing machine, 2 the spin basket in which the clothes are placed to be cleansed, and 3 the agitator which is oscillated on its vertical axis to perform the washing operation. The cleansing liquid is centrifugally extracted from the clothes by rotating the spin basket at high speed. During the washing operation, the spin basket is held stationary. During the centrifugal extraction operation, the spin basket andthe agitator are rotated as a unit and the liquid is discharged through the openings 4 at the upper edge of the spin basket.

The spin basket is attached to and carried by anouter tubular shaft 5. The agitator is attached to and carried by an inner shaft B journaled in shaft 5, the bearings being indicated at 'I and 8. The spin` basket is shown as being connected tovshaft 5 by a, plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically extending webs 9 formed integral with shaft 5 and with a sleeve III projecting upwardly from the bottom of basket 2 in spaced relation to shaft 5, thus providing vertically extending passages between the sleeve and shaft 5. At its lower end, shaft 5 projects through and is journaled in a combined thrust and sleeve bearing 2 carried by the top wall I3 of a sealedcasing |4 which in turn projects through and is supported on the bottom Y 7 Claims. (CLSB-12) o 2 wall I5 of the tub I. Inside casing I4 the end of tubular shaft 5 is fixed to the upper end of a gear frame I6 by a set screw I1. Gear frame I6 has a downwardly projecting hub I8 journaled in a combined thrust and sleeve bearing I9 carilied by a wall which extends across casing Agitator 3 has a tubular center post 2| which tsover tubular shaft 5 in spaced relation thereto to provide an annular passage 22. At its lower end, post 2| is journaled on the upper end of sleeve l0 as is indicated at 23. The top of post 2| has a head provided with a rectangular opening 24 which ts over a rectangular projection 25 on the upper end of shaftt to connect the agitator to the shaft. At the upper end of post 2| are openings 26 which connect the space within spin basket 2 with passages 22 and Openings 26 serve to define the water level in basket 2. On the lower end of shaft 6 is a pinion 2l which through a sector gear 28 and intermediate gearing 29 carried by gear frame I6 is connected to a pinion 30 on the upper end of a drive shaft 3|. Shaft 3| is journaled at its upper end in hub I8 and at its lower end in a tubular shaft 32 which forms the shaft of a motor rotor 33, the stator of which is indicated at 34. Stator 34 is suitably mounted in the lower end of casing I4. The lower end of shaft 32 is carried in and Vsupported by a combined sleeve'and thrust bearing 35 supported by webs 36 integral with casing I4.

On drive shaft 3| is fixed a clutch disk 3l adapted to engage a clutch ring 38 carried by the motor rotor. Clutch disk 31 is biased toward engagement with clutch ring 38 by a spring 39.

Splined on the lower end of hub I8 so as to turn with hub I8 and be capable of axial movement thereon is the hub of a brake and clutch disk 4I having a brake ring portion 42 adapted to engage a stationary brake ring 43 and a clutch portion 44 adapted to be engaged by a, clutch disk 45 fixed to the upper end of an axially expansible corrugated bellows 46. Clutch disk 45 has a relatively long `hub 45a journaled on shaft 3|. Spring 39 surrounds the lower end of hub 45a and is positioned between a flange on the upper end of a sleeve fixed to the motor rotor and a projecting ring 40a on hub 45a. The lower end of hub engages the top of the hub of clutch disk 3l so that spring 39 acts both to move clutch disk 45 from engagement with clutch disk 4| and to seat clutch disk 31. Brake and clutch disk 4| is biased to a position wherein brake ring portion 42 engages stationary brake ring 43 by a spring 46- positioned between the disk 4| and a snap ring on hub I8. Thelower end of bellows 46 is ilxed to clutch ring, thus attaching the bellows to the motor rotor so it turns therewith. The bellows encloses clutch disk 31. Fluid pressure for expanding bellows 46 is supplied by a iluid pump 41 driven by motor shaft 32. Pump 41 may be of any suitable type. It is shown as being carried by the lower end of bearing and as having its rotor connected to shaft 32 by a shaft extension 48. Its suction inlet 43 projects down into a liquid reservoir `lll at the lower end of casing |4, the liquid level being indicated at 6|. Its discharge is connected by a passage 52 to a reservoir 53 which in turn is connected through openings 54 to the end of shaft 32 and vertical grooves 55 in the inner wall o! shaft 32 to the space beneath clutch disk 31. At 56 is a by-pass which connects the discharge side oi pump 41 to reservoir 5l. By-pass 56 is normally open. It is adapted to be closed by a plunger 51 operated by a solenoid 56 when the solenoid is energized.

Normally, when the motor is not running, the partslstand in the positions shown, in the drawing, clutch disk 31 being in engagement with clutch ring 38. clutch disk 45 being out of engagement with brake and clutch disk 4|, and clutch and brake disk, 4I being in engagement withl the brake ring 43. The engagement of brake and clutch disk 4| with brake ring 43 serves to hold stationary the frame I6. Solenoid 58 is deenergized so that plunger 51 stands in a position in which by-pass 56 is uncovered. If

now the circuit on the motor is closed, the motor rotates and through clutch disk 31 rotates the drive shaft 3| which in turn through the gearing carried by gear frame I6 oscillates shaft 6 to etl'ect the washing operation. At this time, pump 41 operates to supply iuid under pressure but no pressure is built up in reservoir 53 since bypass 56 is open permitting the fluid pumped to escape back to the reservoir 58.

When the washing operation is completed, an electric circuit is closed on solenoid 58 energizing it to elfect movement of plunger 51 to close bypass 56, thus shutting olf the bypass. Pressure now builds up in reservoir 53 eil'ecting ilow of iluid under pressure through openings 54 and grooves 55 to the undersideof the clutch disk 31. The pressure effects vertical movement of clutch disk 31 thus moving shaft 3| axially to disconnect clutch disk 31 from clutch ring 38, thus disconnecting the motor amature from the agitator shaft 6. Axial movement of clutch disk 31 and shaft 3| is limited by a shoulder on the shaft engaging the lower end of the bearing I8. Fluid now ilows around the periphery of clutch disk 31 to the interior of bellows 46, effecting expansion of the bellows to slide hub 45* axially along shaft 3| and lift clutch disk 45 into engagement with brake and clutch disk 4|, thus connecting the motor armature to tubular shaft 5 through bellows 46, clutch disk 45, brake and clutch disk 4| and frame I6. At the same time, expansion of the bellows lifts brake and clutch disk.4| from engagement with brake ring 43. By friction between clutch disks 45 and 4I, the motor now rotates the mechanism as a unit to turn the spin basket at high speed to extract water from the clothes in the spin basket. After the spinning operation is completed, the circuit on solenoid 58 is opened permitting the plunger 51 to uncover by-pass 56. This permits the iluid pressure to escape from within bellows 46 to taken as typical of any suitable mechanism which requires the energizing of a motor to eil'ect washing and the energizing of a motor and either the energizing or deenergizing of another circuit to eil'ect centrifugal extraction.

In the present instance, the casing I4 with the mechanism therein is shown as being supported by springs 53 located between ilange 68 on casing I4 and a ilange 6I supported in an opening in the bottom wall I5. The space between casing I4 and the opening in wall I5 may be sealed by a suitable rubber sleeve 62. Tub

4| may be supported by a skirt 63 which in turn may have attached thereto casters adapted to rest on a floor.

For circulating water from the bottom of tub to the spin basket during the washing operation, there is provided a circulating pump driven by an electric motor 66. Pump 65 has its inlet 61 connected to the bottom I5 of the tub and its discharge connected by a pipe 68 to a nozzle 63 which discharges water onto a screen 10 at the upper end of spin basket 2 above openings 4. For emptying tub I, there is provided a drain pump -1| driven by an electric motor 12. The inlet of pump 1| is connected by a pipe [3 to the bottom wall I5 of the tub I. The discharge side of pump 1| is connected to a discharge pipe .14 leading to a suitable drain."

Water for the washing operation is supplied by a hot water pipe 'l5 and a cold water pipe 16. Pipes 15 and 16 have branches which connect to mixing-chambers 11 and 18. These mixing chambers may be alike in structure. The chamber 11 is shown in section. Flow of hot and cold water to the mixing chamber is controlled by a suitable balanced valve arrangement 'I3 to which is connected a thermostatic strip 86. Thermostatic strips 38 for the two mixing chambers are so set that the valve arrangements will be adjusted in response to the temperatures in the respective mixing chambers so that mixing chamber 11 will supply tepid water and mixing chamber 18 will supply hot water. Mixing chamber 11 is connected to the tub by a pipe 8| having a downwardly directed nozzle 8|* for discharging water against a baille plate 82 fixed to the inside of tub I somewhat below the bottom l operated valve 83.

of spin basket 2. Flow ot water through pipe 8| is controlled by a solenoid operated valve 83. When valve 83 is energized, the valve is opened to supply tepid water to the tub. Mixing chamber 18 is connected to the tub by a pipe 84 which connects to the tub through a soapbox 85. Flow of water through the pipe 84 is controlled by a solenoid operated valve 86 similar to solenoid When solenoid valve 86 is energized, the valve is opened to supply hot water through pipe 84 to the tub. Soap for performing the washing operation is placed in soapbox 65 so that the hot water in flowing to the tub will carry to the tub the needed soap for washing.

Ii' solenoid valves 83 and 86 are opened 'simultaneously, both tepid and hot water are supplied to the tub which results in the supplying water oi intermediate temperature.

As a part of the control, there is provided a switch 81 which is biased to open position and which is held closed when the level of the .water in the tub I is below a predetermined value by the weight o a iioat 81=L which is carried by a lever 88 having an end which rests on the end of the stem of switch 81. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the oat is in its lowermost position and holds switch 81 closed. When water is supplied to th',` tub and reaches a predetermined level in the tub, iloat 81a is raised to permit switch 81 to open. Switch 81 is termed a float switch. y

Alsoin connection with the machine is an overflow switch 90 which is biased to open position and is adapted to be closed by a pivoted bell crank lever 9| having an arm which rests on the stem of the switch and a second arm provided with a cup 82 having a. central vopening 83. Cup 92 is positioned to receive water owing from spin basket 2 through either the openings 26in agitator post 2| or thev openings 4 in the spin basket. Water owing through openings 28 in agitator post 2| passes through passages 22 and II to a chamber defined by a wall 94 on top casing wall I3 from which it is directed by a spout 95 to cup 92. Water discharged through openings 4 is caught in a trough dened by walls 98 which partially surrounds tub below spin basket 2 and is provided with a discharge spout 91l for directing water to cup 92. Spouts 95 and 81 discharge water tangentially to cup 92 to produce a swirling action'around the periphery of the cup to build up a certain volume of water in the cup. When the flow of water to the cup is above a predetermined amount, the weight of the cup and water is sufhcient to lower the cup against the action of a spring 98 located between the one arm of lever 9| and the bottom wall I5 to close switch 90. At other times switch 90 is open.

Whenever the agitator is operating, the circulating pump is operated continuously to pump water from the bottom of tub vI to the spin basket, the water flowing from the spin basket back to the tub for the most part through spouts 95 and 91. As long as this flow exceeds a predetermined amount, overilow switch 9?) is maintained in closed position. If the overflow decreases below the predetermined amount, the overflow switch opens.

As long as there is suilicient water to carry on the washing operation, i. e., as long as the spin basket is filled to the desired level and there is sulcient additional water to lift oat 813, switch 81 is maintainedin open position. If the level of i water in the bottom of tub I decreases below a certain amount, iloat 81a is lowered to close switch The complete cycle of operation for a, machine of the type illustrated may vary rather widely.l

Referring rst to Fig. 3, Roman numerals I to VIII inclusive indicate cams which may be mounted on a suitable shaft for rotation by a main timer motor |03. Each cam controls either one or two switches. In the drawing, the switches are shown diagrammatically as pivoted switch lili b1ades,moved between contacts.y In actual practice, suitable snap action switches may be used so that the'switches cannot dwell in an intermediate position. The cams are shaped to hold the switches in either one position or the other. Timer motor |00 may be of anysuit'able type arranged to turn the cams one complete revolution for one complete washing cycle. A suitable timer motor and cams arrangement is shown diagrammatically in my application Serial No. 551,096, led Aug. 25, 1944.

Fig. 2 is a developed view of the control cams, i. e., a cam chart, the continuous horizontal lines designated I to VIII representing the respective cams I to VIII. The lines are shaped to show the raised and bottom portions of the cams. From Fig. 2, the position: of the respective switches at anypoint along the cams can be determined. For purposes of description, the contacts engaged by the switch blades when the raised or surface portions of the cams are active'will be termed the outer switches and the contacts engaged by the switch blades when the depressions of the cams are activewill be termed the inner switches.

As indicated on the chart, the total cleansing time comprises three main periods, a soak period, a wash period and a rinse period; and each of these periods is divided into a soak-agitate and a "soak-spin period; a,washagita'te" and a. wash-spin period, and a rinse agitate and a rinse-spin" period. Distance along the cam representstime.l The timer motor may turn the cam at the rat;` of one complete revolution in forty minutes, for example.

'At I0| is what I term a wash cam which is driven by a separate wash timer motor |02 and controls a wash timer switch |03. This separate wash timer mechanism is for the purpose of enabling the length of the wash period to be adjusted.

My improved control system will be best understood by describing a complete washing cycle.

In the rst instance, the clothes to be cleansed are placed in the spin basket after which the timer motor andcams are turned to the start position indicated at a in Fig. 2. In this position of the timer motor and cams, the several switches occupy the positions shown in Fig. 3, circuits being closed as indicated by the heavy lines in Fig. 3. Cam I closes its outer switch. 'I'his is the main switch and is closedat all times when the machine is running. It closes a circuit through a dial indicating lamp |04 and connects the source of power indicated'by the electric plug |05 to the plus and minus power lines |06 and |01.

Cam VIII closes its outer switch to close a circuit through circulating pump 65. Cam II closes its outer switch to close a circuit through solenoid valve 83 by way of the outer switch of cam VIII and float switch 81. At this time, oat switch 81 is closed since there is no water in the tub. The circuit through solenoid valve 88 opens the valve to admit warm water to the tub through 'I'he circulating pump, which is now operating, pumps this water from the bottom of the tub I up into spinbasket 2. Water is supplied tothe tub until the spin lbasket 2 is filled and an additional amount overflows and is accumulated in the bottom of tub I to raise float 81a and open iloat switch 81. When float switch 81 opens, the circuit through solenoid valve 83 is opened and the supply of water is shut oi. The circulating pump, however, continues to operate.y Prior to the time the accumulation of 7 water in the bottom of the tub is sufficient to open oat switch 01, the overflow from basket 2 through openings 26 is sufficient so that the accumulation of water in cup 02 eiects the closing of overow switch 90. The closing of overow switch followed by the opening of oat switch 01 enects a change in the circuits as is shown in Fig. 4, the circuits indicated by the heavy lines being closed.

Referring to Fig. 4, cam VIII maintains its outer switch closed, keeping circulating pump 65 in operation. Overiiow switch 90 closes a circuit on the winding 34 of the motor by way of the outer switch of cam V. Also, it closes a circuit on the main timer |00 by way of the outer switch of cam V and the inner switch of cam IV. When the circuit is iirst closed on the motor, the current owing is suiicient to impulsively close the magnetic starter switch |08, thus putting current on the starter winding 34a of the motor. As soon as the motor starts, the starter switch |00 cuts out the starter winding. The motor now operates the agitator, and the circulating pump continually circulates water from the tub through the spin basket. Overflow from the spin basket takes place through openings 26 in the agitator post or through openings 26 and holes 4 to keep overow switch 90 closed. If at any time the water level in the tub decreases below a predetermined amount, iioat switch 81 will close to admit additional water to the tub until the level is sunicient to reopen the oat switch. If at any time the water overiiow decreases below a predetermined amount, overflow switch 00 will open to stop the main motor and the timer |00. This may be termed the soak-agitata period and is continued until the timer cam reaches the point b in Fig. 2. In other words, the period of time represented by the space from a to b on the cam represents the soak-agitate period.

It will be noted that the circuit through the main timer includes a part of a resistance |09, thev connection being made at the midpoint. A circuit leads through `this resistance to the drain pump but owing to the decrease in voltage due to the resistance, the current flow is not sumcient to operate the drain pump. The timer operates on a voltage lower than the main line voltage, for example approximately one-half the main line voltage. I

At the end of the agitate-soak period, cam V opens its outer switch and closes its inner switch; cam VI opens its outer switch and closes its inner switch, and cam VIII opens its outer switch and closes its inner switch. Circuits are now closed as indicated by the heavy lines in Fig. 5. The inner switch of cam VI closes a circuit directly on the main winding of the motor and by way of resistance |09 and inner switch of cam IV closes a circuit through the main timer |00. A circuit through solenoid 58 is closed by wayof the inner switch of cam VI and the inner switch of cam V. This latter circuit leads through the starting winding of the motor but this is only by way of convenience in Wiring and has no effect switch of cam VIII closes a circuit on the drain pump 1| and also a circuit on the main timer |00 by way of the'upper half of resistance |09 and on either the operation of the spin solenoid or the starting winding. The circuit through solenoid 58 may be termed the spin initiating circuit since it effects positioning of the washing machine mechanism for rotating the spin basket; and the circuit through the main motor winding 34 by way of the inner switch of cam VI may be termed the motor spin circuit since it is the circuit closed on the motor during the spinning operation of the spin basket. The inner the inner switch of cam'IV. Thus .at this time there are two parallel circuits through the main timer. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that cam VIII operates its switches to close circuits on the drain pump and the main timer motor just prior to the timecams V and VI operate their switches to transfer the motor circuit from a circuit through the outer switch of `cam V to a circuit through the inner switch of cam VI. This insures that the main timer is kept in operation while the motor circuit is being thus transferred. The circuit of the circulating pump 05 is opened at cam VIII. Closing a circuit through solenoid 50 eiects the closing of by-pass 50 n(Fig. 1) to effect disconnection of the agitator from the motor and the connection of the spin basket to the motor. The spin basket is now rotated to extract water from the clothes and the drain pump is operated to pump the water from tub to the drain. This operation continues until the point c in Fig. 2, the end of what may be termed the soak-spin period, isreached.

In connection with the circulating pump, it will be noted that during the soak-spin period at the point r in Fig. 2, cam VIII for a short period opens its inner switch and closes its outer switch. 'I'his disconnects the drain pump and connects in the circulating pump. The purpose of this is to circulate water -for a short period of time from the bottom of the tub onto the screen 10 to ilush lint and other foreign matter off the screen.

An examination of Fig. 2 shows that just prior to the time point c is reached, operations -take place as follows. First cam VI operates to open its inner switchand close its outer switch.; This opens the circuits on the motor and on solenoid 50 to stop the machine. It opens also one circuit through the main timer. Shortly thereafter, cam V opens its inner switch and closes its outer switch to put it in position to again close the motor circuit. However, the motor circuit is not completed since the overflow switch is now open because no overflow exists. Next, cam II opens its outer switch and closes its inner switch and cam IlI closes its inner switch, cam III having only an inner switch. And iinally cam VIII operates to open its inner switch and close its outer switch to open the drain pump circuit and the main timer circuit and close the circuit on the circulating pump. The machine is now stopped and ready to be lled for the wash period. The positions of the several switches are shown in Fig. 6, the closed circuits being indicated in heavy'lines.

The closing of the outer switch of cam' Vm, in addition to closing the circuit on the circulating pump, closes also a circuit on the warm water solenoid by way of a manual switch |0 and the inner switch of cam 1I to open the warm water valve, and a circuit on hot water solenoid 06 by way of manual switch |0 and the inner switch ci' cam IlI to open the hot water valve. At this time, the noat switch 01 is closed since there is no water in tub Accordingly, both warm and hot water will be supplied. Prior to starting the washing operation, the operator will have set manual switch ||0 so that it engages its upper contact only, its lower contact only, or both its contacts. If in engagement with its upper contact only, then warm water alone will be supplied to the machine. II in engagement with its lower contact only, .then hot water alone will be supplied to the machine. It in engagement with both its upper and lower contacts, as shown in Fig. 6, both warm and hot water will be supplied to the machine, resulting in intermediate tem-` perature water. Also, prior to starting the washing operation, soap will have been placed in the soapbox 85. This will be ilushed into the machine by the hot water. In this connection, it is pointed out that ordinarily hot water will be supplied at this point in the cycle. .It is only when hot water is supplied that soap is automatically dispensed. At this time, the main timer circuit is open so that the main timer is stopped. Filling of the machine will continue, as in the case when the machine was iilled initially, until such time as the overilow switch closes and the iloat switch opens. When this occurs, circuits the same as those shown in Fig. 4 will be closed for the washagitata period, the agitator and the circulating pump being in operation.

Referringy to Fig. 2, it will be seen that as soon as the point d is reached, cam Il operates to open its inner switch and close its outer switch and cam III operates to open its inner switch'so that now should oat 81a close only warm water will be supplied to the machine.

The length of the wash-agitate period is made up of a xed minimum period of time on the main timer to which is added an adjustable period of time on the wash timer. The wash-agitate period starts on the main timer, is transferred to the wash timer (the main timer being stopped) and then retransferred to the main timer.

Prior to the time the wash-agitate period is reached, ordinarily at the time the machine is being loaded with clothes, the wash timer IIII is adjusted for the desired washing period. Normally, the wash timer cam IIII stands in a position wherein notch III in the cam effects the closing of its irmer switch II2 and the opening of its outer switch I I3 as in Fig. '7. The operator turns the wash timer manually clockwise to move cam IBI to eiIect the opening of switch Il! and the closing of switch H3, the cam being turned until its notch is a distance from normal position such that the time required for the wash timer to bring the notch I I I back to normal position plus the xed wash-agitate time of the main timer will give the desired total wash-agitate Ime.

Referring to Figs.. 2 and 4, the wash-agitate period operates on the main timer beginning at the point c until the point e is reached. At the point e, cam IV operates to open its inner switch and close its outer switch. Opening of its inner switch disconnects the main timer from the circuit and closing the outer switch connects the wash timer into the circuit. The machine now operates on the wash timer until such time as cam I'0I has been moved a distance to bring notch III back to its original position wherein outer switch IIB is opened and inner switch Il! is closed. 'Ihis serves to transfer the circuit from the wash timer back to the main timer, the circuit being closed on the main timer'by way of the outer switch ,of cam IV and the inner switch H2 of wash timer cam IIII. The main timer is now operated and the wash-agitate period continues on the main timer by way of this circuit until the point f in Fig. 2 is reached at which time cam IV opens its outer switch and closes its inner switch, thus restoring the original main timer circuit. The main timer continues operation until the point g in Fig. 2 is reached, this being the end of -the wash-agitate period and the beginning o! the wash-spin period.

Just prior to this point .g in the cycle at the point s cam VII is operatedl to open-its outer contact and close its inner contact. This connects into circuit the drain pump by way of the outer .switch of cam VI and the inner switch of cam VII to pump 'water from the bottom of the tub to the drain.. The circulating pump continues operating. As soon as the level of water in the tub lowers suiiiciently to effect closing of iloat switch I1, solenoid valve 83 is opened to admit warm water to the machine. This water is sprayed against the baille 82 and is for the purpose of killing the suds which may have collected in the space between the spin basket and the wall ot the tub. Collection of suds in this space is ytermed suds lock and interferes with the rotation of the spin basket, making it dimcult to start-the basket rotating and get it up to speed. As will be seen, water to break the suds lock is admitted over only a relatively short space of time.

At the point a (Fig. 2) of the cycle. the circuits become the same as thoseat the point b shown in Fig. 2, i. e., the same as those in Fig. 5. The space between point g and point h (Fig. 2) is the wash-spin period. Din'ing this period, the soapy water is extracted from the clothes and pumped to the drain. At the point r', cam VIII is operated to disconnect the drain lpump and connect the circulating pump. This serves to admit fresh water to the tub and the circulating pump lifts this water from the bottom of the tub'onto the lter to ilush the illter screen. The amount of fresh water admitted is limited to that needed to operate the float because this water is thrown from the illter back to the tub without any entering the basket due to the high speed at which the basket is rotating.

At the point h (Fig. 2), the circuits are restored to the condition shown in Fig. 3, `cams VI, V and VIII operating their switches successively as already described. The motor and timer are stopped and warm water for rinsing is supplied through solenoid operated valve 83. After themachine is again lled with water, agitation for the rinse-agitate period takes place, the eircuits during this period being those shown in Fig. 4. The rinse-agitate period continues until the point i (Fig. 2) is reached. During the rinseagitate period at the points s' and s", cam VII is operated to connect the drain pump in circuit. This results in the admission of warm water to the machine at these two spaced points after the manner already described in connection with the wash-agitate period at s. The purpose of adding water during the rinse-agitate period is to effect thorough rinsing of the clothes in the spin basket. At the point i, the rinse-agitate period ends and the rinse-spin period begins. The circuits for the rinse-spin period are the same as those for the soak-spin period and the wash-spin period as shown in Fig. 5 except that cam VII operates to open its outer switch and close its inner switch so that the drain pump is not connected in circuit. As a result, the rinse water is not discharged to the drain but is stored in the bottom of tub I. At one point during the rinse-spin period, point r", cam VIII is operated to open its innerswitch and close its outer switch, thus connecting the circulating pump. This is for the purpose ofilushing the screen 10 as in previous spin periods. The rinse-spin period terminates at the pointfi (Fig. 2) at which point cam I opens the main switch. This completes the washing cycle' and the machine may be opened and the washed clothes removed from the spin basket.

After the clothes have been removed from the machine, the operator may either empty the tub of the rinse water'or use the rinsewater as the soak or other water for the next clothes to be washed.

Ifitisdesiredtoemptythemachine.themain ture is connected in a circuit through resistance IIS but owing to the resistance, the current is not sumcient to operate the motor. The end of the emptying period is indicated at l at which point cam I again opens the main circuit.

If, instead of emptying the machine, it is desired to use the rinse water in the bottom of the machine for the next soak" period, the main timer is moved from the point :i directly to the point a, restoring the circuits to those shown` in Fig. 3. This operates the circulating pump to pump water from the tub to the spin basket. Any deciency inY water will be made up by the float switch 81 operating to open warm water solenoid valve Il.

If desired, of course, the machine may be emptied and then reiilled with fresh water for.

the next soak period.

It will be noted that the outer switch of cam V111 controls the circulating pump circuit and the inner switch controls a -drain pump circuit;

that the inner switch of cam VI, when the inner switch of cam V is closed, controls a, motor circuit for the spin periods and the outer switch controls a second drain pump circuit; and cam VII has an outer switch in the first named drain pump circuit and an inner switch in the second named drain pump circuit. This circuit arrangement has the advantage that by thus utilizing the cams VI and VII, I am enabled to operate the circulating pump and the drain pump simultaneously during any agitating period.

The circulating pump is in a circuit in parallel to the water supply circuits and all are controlled by the outer switch of cam VIII. The drain pump is in a circuit in parallel to the timer circuits and all are controlled by the inner switch of cam VIII. Thus it is cam VDI which transfers from the one set of circuits to the other while the several switches in the parallel circuits make the needed changes in such parallel circuits.

In connection with the timer circuits, the resistance |09 in combination with switches of the two cams VI and VII enables the provision of alternate circuits for the timer without the and the innerv switch of cam IV. At this time, the motor armaprovision of relays or other devices having movl ing parts.

Subject matters disclosed but not claimed herein are disclosed and claimed in applications as follows, assigned to the same assignee as the instant application:

Subject matters having to do with features of the clutch, brake, and gearing arrangement are disclosed and claimed in applications: Woodson;

Serial No. 551,096, filed August 25, 1944; McNairy, Serial No. 551,105, illed August 25, 1944 now patent N0. 2,485,621, issued October 25, 1949; Barim,

l2 Serial No. 604,888, filed July 13, 1945 now patent No. 2,485,622 issued October 25, 1949.

Subject matters having to do with features of the control arrangements are disclosed and claimed in applications: Woodson Serial No. 551,097, illed August 25, 1944 now Patent No. 2,523,799 issued September 26, 1950; Barifli, Serial No. 551,183, tiled August 25, 1944 now Patent No. 2,432,271 issued December 9, 1947; Woodson Serial No. 639,816, iiled January 8, 1946.

Subject matters having to do with features of the sealed-in mechanism and its lubricatingA and cooling means are disclosed and claimed in Woodson Serial No. 630,439, illed November 23, 1945.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. Ina washing machine having an electric motor driven drain pump, a timer electric motor, and a driving electric motor, a control comprising a drain pump motor circuit, a driving electric motor circuit, a resistance connected across said circuits, a timer motor circuit connected at a midpoint of said resistance, and cam controlled spin circuit, a spin initiating circuit, a timer motor circuit, Aan overflow switch in the motor washing means circuit, a ilrst cam, switch means actuated by .said ilrst cam for alternatively closing said motor washing means circuit and said timer motor circuit in series with said overilow switch or for 'conditioning said spin initiating circuit for closure, a second cam, switch means actuated by said second cam for simultaneously closing said motor spin circuit and said timer motor circuit and for completing the closure of said spin initiating circuit, and means connecting said timer motor to said cams for operating them.

3. In a washing machine having a spin basket, washing means, an electric motor for rotatingv the spin basket and for operating the washing means, an electric motor driven circulating pump, an electric motor driven drain pump and a timer electric motor, a control comprising a motor washing means circuit, a motor spin circuit, a spin initiating circuit, a circulating pump circuit, a drain pump circuit, a timer motor circuit, an overiiow switch in the motor washing means circuit. a rst cam, switch means actuated by said ilrst cam for alternatively closing said motor washing means' circuit and said timer circuit in series with said overflow switch or for conditioning said spin initiating circuit for closure, a second cam, switch -means actuated by said second cam for closing said motor spin circuit and said timer motor circuit and completing closure of said spin initiating circuit, a third cam, switch a spin initiating circuit, a circulating pump circuit, a drain pump circuit, a first timer motor circuit, a second timer motor circuit, an overiiow switch in the motor washing means circuit, a first cam, switch means actuated by said first cam for alternatively closing said motor Washing means circuit and said first timer motor circuit in series with said overflow switch or for conditioning said spin initiating circuit for closure, a second cam, switch means actuated by said second cam for closing said motor spin circuit and said first timer motor circuit, a third cam, switch means actuated by said third cam for alternative- 1y closing said circulating pump circuit or said drain pump circuit and said second timer motor circuit, and means connecting said timer motor to said cams for operating them.

5. In a washing machine having an electric motor driven circulating pump, an electric motor driven drain pump, an electrically actuated water supply valve and an electric timer motor, a control comprising cam means driven by the timer motor, switch means actuated by said cam means for alternatively closing circuits through the circulating pump motor and the water supply valve motor or through the drain pump motor and the timer motor, and switch means actuated by said cam means for closing alternate circuits through said drain pump motor and said timer motor while said first named switch means maintains closed circuits through the circulating pump motor and the water supply valve motor whereby the circulating pump and the drain pump may be operated simultaneously.

6. In a washing machine having an electric motor driven drain pump, an electric timer motor and an electric driving motor, control means comcuit, a resistance connected across said circuits,

i4 a circuit for the timer motor connected at a midpoint to said resistance, and circuit closing means actuated by the timer motor for closing the drain pump motor circuit or the driving motor circuit whereby the timer motor is operated when either circuit is closed.

7. In a washing machine having an electric motor driven circulating pump, an electric motor driven drain pump, an electrically operated valve through which water may be supplied to the machine, and electric motor driven timer means, a control comprising a set of parallel circuits for the circulating pump motor and for controlling the water supply valve operating means, a set of parailel circuits for the drain pump motor and the timer motor, a cam, switch means controlled by the cam for closing a circuit alternatively through either of said sets of circuits, a second cam, switch means controlled by said second cam for closing an alternate circuit through said second set of circuits while the first cam maintains a closed circuit condition in said first set of circuits whereby the circulating pump, the drain pump, and the water supply valve may be operated simultaneously, and means connecting the timer means to said cams for operating the same.

THOMAS T. WOODSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,079,636 Sharp May 11, 1937 2,254,269 Clark et al. Sept. 2, 1941 Certiicate of Correction Patent No. 2,526,444 october 17, 195o THOMAS T. WOODSON It is hereby certied that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 13, line 37, after the syllable and hyphen cour insert pm'sz'ng a drain pump 011W; line 38, after the syllable and comma cuit, insert a dri/079mgl motor circuit,;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oiice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of April, A. D. 1951.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

